The best ways to find the right employer when looking for an apprenticeship

Better pay and decent work conditions are two of the big perks for apprentices who choose their employers wisely.

Improving on-the-job experiences – including work conditions, pay and relationships with colleagues – is key to curbing apprentice dropout rates in the trades sector.

The National Centre for Vocational Education Research reveals employer support is a crucial determinant in whether apprentices complete their training, with experts cautioning young tradies to choose their bosses wisely.

National Australian Apprenticeship Association chief executive Ben Bardon says before signing an employment contract, it pays to check whether a potential employer has previously hired apprentices.

“Find out not only if the business has employed apprentices but also have (those apprentices) got through (finished their training),’’ Bardon says.

Choosing a company that formally recruits staff – rather than on-the-spot hiring of a mate or family member – also leads to better retention and apprentice completion rates, Bardon says.

He says larger businesses with HR departments are more likely to pay above-award rates – a significant factor given poor pay is often cited by those who drop out of training.

Brodie Hough is doing a signwriting apprenticeship through Maxima, hosted by the City of Tea Tree Gully.

Apprenticeship Support Australia national general manager Lee Xavier says employers play a vital role throughout an apprentice’s training.

“There are a lot of potential issues, such as generational communication issues or employers setting their expectations of the apprentice’s abilities too high or too low,’’ he says.

“Sometimes there are issues around inadequate supervision, as it requires trained staff to instruct the apprentice on the job.’’

Xavier advises would-be apprentices to make sure they understand the role they are applying for and that they are provided with copies of the employment contract, as well as company policies such as codes of conduct and IT, drug and alcohol policies.

Maxima chief executive David Cockram says undertaking apprenticeships through a group training organisation provides a “safety net’’ whereby the trainer can intervene if problems occur between an apprentice and their host employer.

He says apprentice completion rates through GTOs are typically much higher than the national average.

Those outside the GTO model who experience problems with their employer should contact their state training authority for advice, he says.

Brodie Hough, 21, dropped out of a landscaping traineeship, partly because of “dodgy’’ practices that required he drive machinery he was not licensed for.

He subsequently signed on with Maxima to undertake a signwriting apprenticeship with the City of Tea Tree Gully and says the encouragement he has received from the GTO and his host employer has been fundamental to his success.

“I left (the traineeship) after six months but the support I get here has definitely made me want to stick at it,’’ Hough says.

“This has been better than anywhere else I’ve ever worked.’’

Originally published as The best ways to find the right employer when looking for an apprenticeship